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MAY 14, 2009
IN THIS ISSUE
GARCETTI UNTAG PROGRAM REDUCING GRAFFITI
 L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti's UNTAG program has been reducing graffiti in the 13th Council District since its inception in 2004. The concept is simple: residents and other stakeholders agree to monitor one block or hot spot for graffiti and report it for removal.
"When we first started UNTAG, my goal was to reduce graffiti by half. Thanks to the program's participants, we've actually reduced graffiti by more than 70 percent in the last four years," said Council President Garcetti.
More than 400 volunteers - students, seniors, renters, homeowners, business owners and more -participate in UNTAG as block captains. When they see graffiti, they call 3-1-1 to report it. City crews and contractors typically remove the graffiti within 48 hours of it being reported.
You learn more about UNTAG by watching a video here. Click here to visit the UNTAG website where you can sign up to be a Block Captain or download tools to start an UNTAG team in your neighborhood.
GARCETTI OFFICE PARTICIPATES IN BIKE TO WORK WEEK
As part of Bike to Work Week, several members of Council President Garcetti's staff rode bikes to work this week to promote cleaner air, less vehicular traffic, and better health.  
 
In addition to encouraging people to ride their bikes to work, the week included events each day starting with a kick-off on Olvera Street on Monday. Today is the official Bike to Work Day and Metro is offering free rides all day to help people with longer commutes.
"It doesn't need to be Bike to Work Week for people to take advantage of this clean and healthy mode of transportation," said Council President Garcetti. For more information on bicycling in Los Angeles, click here. NEW FREEWAY FENCES MAKING ROUTES TO BERNSTEIN HIGH SCHOOL SAFER FOR STUDENTS
 New fences on the freeway overpasses at Wilton Place and Fountain Avenue are making it safer for Bernstein High School students to walk to and from school.
After hearing concerns from school staff and parents, Council President Garcetti's office worked with the school district, CalTrans, and Assemblymember DeLeon's office to install a temporary fence to raise the railing height at these overpasses. In addition, CalTrans is planning a more permanent upgrade to the railing that will increase its height.
BARK FOR LIFE IN SILVER LAKE THIS SUNDAY
 The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life has become a fun tradition in many communities and now Silver Lake will put its own twist on the event with Bark for Life.
This event will take place this Sunday afternoon at the Silver Lake Reservoir where dogs and their human companions can walk to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Click here to register or for more information.
L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti represents the 13th Council District, which includes all or part of the communities of Glassell Park, Little Armenia, Thai Town, Atwater Village, Elysian Valley, Echo Park, Historic Filipinotown, Silver Lake, East Hollywood and Hollywood. Councilmember Garcetti serves as President of the Los Angeles City Council.
Council President Garcetti and his staff can be reached via e-mail at councilmember.garcetti@lacity.org or by mail or phone at City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, Room 470, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213-473-7013; 5500 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323-957-4500; and 3750 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065, 323-478-9002
Watch the Meet Eric Garcetti video in English or Spanish.
www.lacity.org/council/cd13
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